Programs in Curriculum and Instruction prepare students to complete advanced degrees by addressing critical issues in learning, teaching, and curriculum, from local to global levels.

The Master of Arts, Education (M.A.) in Curriculum and Instruction is a degree with a focus in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).  TESOL is a term that comprises both TESL, Teaching English as a Second Language, and TEFL, Teaching English as a Foreign Language.  This degree program is offered at the KU Lawrence campus only. The M.A. candidate completes graduate courses both in education and in TESOL. This provides the candidate an opportunity to gain advanced knowledge in education as well as in TESOL.

The M.A./TESOL is a cohort program that starts each fall semester, with required courses to help graduates achieve their goals. Students work with an advisor to choose electives based on individual career goals.  There are three options for completing the M.A. degree: thesis, project, and examination. The thesis and project options each require a minimum of 30 graduate credit hours, culminating in successful defense of a thesis or project. The examination option requires a minimum of 36 graduate credit hours, culminating in successful completion of a comprehensive written examination.

Students who select the thesis or project options must complete at least 20 of the credit hours in regular course work, as contrasted with independent study and similar enrollments.  Students who select the examination option must complete at least 26 credit hours in regular course work, as contrasted with independent study and similar enrollments.

Graduate Admission to the School of Education and Human Sciences

Graduate programs in education are open to students with acceptable baccalaureate and graduate degrees whose academic records indicate that they can do successful work at the graduate level. Applicants must provide evidence of ability to work successfully at the graduate level, including experience in and commitment to the profession.  

Each department in the School of Education and Human Sciences sets its own application deadlines and admission criteria.  Prospective graduate students should contact the appropriate department for more information.

See Admission in the Graduate Studies section of the online catalog for more information.

Graduate Admission to the Department of Curriculum and Teaching

In addition to general requirements for admission to graduate study in the School of Education and Human Sciences, master’s degree programs in Curriculum and Instruction require completion of an appropriate undergraduate program and, in some instances, a teaching license. Materials describing all Curriculum and Instruction programs may be obtained from the department.

Please refer to the graduate application for application deadlines.

Admission to the Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction Program (Domestic Applicants)

The following materials must be submitted:

• A completed domestic online graduate application.
• 1 official transcript of all previous undergraduate and graduate credit.  Master's applicants must have earned a bachelor's degree with at least a 3.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale from an accredited university.
• 3 letters of recommendation. Each letter should be attached to the online recommendation form when it is submitted by the recommender.
• A statement of career goals.
• A vita or résumé.

Admission to the Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction Program (International Applicants)

The following materials must be submitted:

• A completed international online graduate application.
• 2 official transcripts (1 in the original language and 1 in English translation) of all previous undergraduate and graduate credit.  Master's applicants must have earned a bachelor's degree or equivalent with at least a 3.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. The transcripts must contain the following information:

- Completion of coursework required for degree

- Degree earned and date the degree was conferred; if this is not on the transcript, applicants must also submit a degree certificate and/or diploma

- Official stamp/seal from the school.

• 3 letters of recommendation. Each letter should be attached to the online recommendation form when it is submitted by the recommender.

• A statement of career goals.

• A vita or résumé.

• For students whose native language is not English, official scores on the TOEFL (IBT) of at least 23 in Listening, Reading and Writing must be submitted for consideration of admission to the Curriculum and Teaching Department. The IELTS (Academic) official score is also accepted, with an overall score of at least 6.5, and scores of at least 6.0 in Listening, Reading and Writing. The PTE (Academic) official score is also accepted, with an overall score of at least 60 and scores of at least 55 in Listening, Reading and Writing. The TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores must be less than two years old at the time of admission. TOEFL/IELTS/PTE scores may not be required if applicant meets the verification of English proficiency requirements as specified below:

Applicants who have earned a baccalaureate degree (or higher) in residence from an accredited university or from a foreign university which conducts all instruction in English and which maintains substantially equivalent bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree requirements, will be considered fully proficient and will not be required to complete AEC testing or coursework. ​​Degrees earned online may not be used to verify English proficiency.

Please note: Meeting minimum admission standards does not guarantee admission to the program.

All application materials should be submitted online with the graduate application.  If there are application materials that cannot be uploaded with the online application, they may be emailed or mailed to the department:

The University of Kansas
Department of Curriculum and Teaching
Joseph R. Pearson Hall
1122 W. Campus Road, Room 321
Lawrence, KS 66045

Contact us: ctdepartment@ku.edu

Additional Degree Requirements

All M.A./TESOL students must apply online to graduate by the deadline for the semester they will complete their degree requirements.  Students should submit their application for degree at the beginning of the semester they plan to graduate. 

Students must earn a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale to be eligible to graduate.  No course may be completed with a grade of U (unsatisfactory), and no course may be completed with a letter grade below C (2.00). If students do not have a minimum 3.00 GPA, they will be required to take additional courses in consultation with their advisor in order to raise their GPA to the minimum 3.00.

A final comprehensive examination in the major subject is required of all candidates for the Master of Arts in Education.

Master’s examinations are administered by a committee of at least three members of the Graduate Faculty. The examination is held during the semester of the student’s final enrollment in course work and (in thesis programs) when the thesis has been substantially completed. The department’s request to schedule the general examination must be made on or before the date set by the School of Education and Human Sciences Graduate Division, normally a minimum of two weeks before the examination date.

The degree program adviser and the School of Education and Human Sciences Graduate Division should ascertain that the graduate student is in good academic standing (3.0 or higher GPA) and that all other degree requirements are met before scheduling the final comprehensive examination.

Students who elect the Master's Thesis option must adhere to the thesis formatting requirements found on the Graduate Studies website.  A successful oral examination conducted by an exam committee comprised of faculty members is required, following tentative approval of the written thesis.  After a success thesis defense, the M.A./TESOL candidate must submit the thesis for publication and comply with all requirements in the KU Master's Thesis Submission and Publication policy.

The Department of Curriculum & Teaching views the defense of the thesis, presentation of the research project, presentation of the portfolio, and review of the written comprehensive examination as the Final Examination of the Master’s degree.  If a student receives a grade of Unsatisfactory on the final examination, it may be repeated on the recommendation of the degree program, but under no circumstances may it be taken more than three times.